Pinoy diagnostic tools, mobile lab boost fight vs African Swine Fever
THE TUSLOB Rapid DNA Extraction Kit and VIPtec ASFV Real-time PCR Detection Kit, proudly developed by Filipino scientists under the DOST’s Virology and Vaccine Research Program, are part of the country’s science-driven response to African Swine Fever.
Photograph courtesy of DOST-PCAARRD
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in partnership with BioAssets Corporation, has unveiled a suite of Filipino-developed technologies aimed at bolstering the country’s efforts to detect and manage African Swine Fever (ASF), a disease that has battered the Philippine hog industry since 2019.
These locally developed innovations include two detection kits and a mobile biocontainment laboratory, offering science-based solutions to prevent further economic losses in the agricultural sector. ASF outbreaks have hit 76 out of 82 provinces, with four provinces still reporting active cases as of May 2025.
Through its Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), the DOST developed the TUSLOB Rapid DNA Extraction Kit and the VIPtec ASFV Real-time PCR Detection Kit – a tandem set of tools designed to provide fast, accurate, and on-site detection of ASFV (African Swine Fever Virus). These technologies use Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques suitable for field conditions, enabling point-of-need diagnostics for veterinarians and animal health workers.
THE country’s first Filipino-made Mobile Biocontainment Laboratory, developed by BioAssets Corporation, is deployed to support rapid diagnostics and containment of African Swine Fever outbreaks in the field.
Photograph courtesy of DOST-PCAARRD
Meanwhile, BioAssets Corporation has introduced the Mobile Biocontainment Laboratory (MBL) – the country’s first homegrown mobile lab designed for rapid deployment in outbreak-prone areas. This mobile facility supports disease surveillance and response efforts, enabling faster decision-making for containment and mitigation.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. underscored the role of science and technology in addressing the long-standing threat posed by ASF.
“These three technologies delve into the potential of STI to address critical issues in animal health, especially regarding ASF. These highlight how STI can contribute holistic solutions to pressing animal health challenges that impact our food security,” Solidum said.
Validation tests for TUSLOB and VIPtec, conducted in coordination with the Department of Agriculture's Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (DA-RADDL), showed that the DOST-developed kits produced comparable results to commercial detection tools. Trials were held in DA-RADDL Regions II, IV-A, and VI, as well as at the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
The kits are optimized for use with portable and low-cost quantitative PCR (qPCR) machines, making them ideal for remote and resource-limited areas. With minimal equipment needed, these solutions lower the barrier for early ASF detection and are expected to play a crucial role in protecting the P260-billion swine industry.